Luggage carrier



Sept. 8, 1931. L., EDELMANN ETAL LUGGAGE CARRIER Filed Dec. 31. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet l P 1931- EDELMANN ET AL 1,822,480

LUGGAGE CARRIER Filed Dec. 31. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 k} v a a} INVENTORS Z43? yum 2% l 1931- L. EDELMANN ET AL 1,822,480

LUGGAGE CARRIER Filed Dec. 31. 1928 5 Shaw's-$11861. 3

INVENTORS WWW Sept. 8, 1931- L. EDELMANN ET AL LUGGAGE (L KRRIER Filed Dec. 31. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS rnwwn/ #JfbmUWEdfi lav [Mel Sept. 8, 1931. EDELMANN ETAL LUGGAGE CARR I ER Filed Dec. 31. 1928 5 Shoots-Sheet 5 INVENTORS' ,A I50 1m ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 8, 1931 LEE-2,48%

new STATES PATENT OFFICE LEO EDELMANN AND I-IARQLD W. EDEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO E. EDEL MANN 85 (30., OF CHICAGG, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS LUGGAGE CARRIER.

Application filed December 31, 1928. Serial No. 329,561.

Our invention relates to improvements in luggage carriers and particularly to structures of this character adapted for application to and use upon the step or running board of an automobile.

fan object of this invention is to provide a carrier which can be readily attached to and detached from an automobile and which is of such construction that it can be folded or col- 7;; lapsed to be out of the way when not in use, but at the same time to be readily available for extension to the position for use.

A. further object is to provide a luggage carrier structure which will occupy a relaively small space when folded to the colapsed position and which will lie against the A dash apron of the running board to thus be e .tirelv out of the way of a person stepping upon the running board in entering or leaving the machine.

Another object resides in so constructing the parts that the luggage carrier will present a particularly strong and rigid rail along the outer ec o of the running board 2 when adjusted to the position for use, and that portions are provided to guard against injury to the running board cover. when heavy articles are placed in the carrier.-

Yet another object is to provide supporting structure to rich for use which will accommodate the device for mounting upon a wide or narrow running board, as the case may be with the particu ar automobile'on which the installa- 33 tiou is made.

Still another object is to provide a shield portion which can he interchangeably fitted to cover the luggage carrier structure when the same is moved to the folded position and 4-0 which can be fitted to extend the size and extent of the luggage carrier along the length of the running board. when the same is opened for use. 1

lVith the above and other objects in view,

4.:- which will be apparent to those skilled in the art our invention includes certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter set forth in connection with the drawings.

In the drawings:

hold the parts in the posi-' Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the side of an automobile with the improved luggage carrier fitted thereon and adjusted to the position for use.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to F i 1 with the shield removed preparatory to folding.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. l with the luggage carrier folded and the covering shield applied thereto.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentaryview in front elevation of one end of the'luggage carrier.

Fig. 5 is a sectional. view transversely through a'running board and splash apron having the luggage carrier mounted thereon.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view with the luggage carrier partly folded.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 with the parts folded as illustratedin Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6 with the parts of the luggagecarrier still further folded.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 5 illustrating the parts as shown in Fig. 8. i

Fig. 10 is a view-in side elevationshowing the luggage carrier complete collapsed and folded back against the splash apron.

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 5 with the luggage carrier structure completely collapsed as illustrated in Fig. 10 and the cover shield in place thereon.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary perspective and sectioned View showing the shield mounted upon the extended luggage carrier.

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12 illustrating the mounting of the cover shield as it will be applied over the collapsed luggage carrier.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view illustrating one of the hinged joints.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view illustrating the running board clamp.

In the present instance we have shown our invention as applied upon a metal step or running board of an automobile, in which the running board is indicated at A and the splash hood is illustrated at B. However, it is to be understood that our improved structure can be mounted upon any style or type of running board and upon various models and designs of automobiles and that it is one of the primary purposes of our inven tion to provide a structure which will be readily adaptable tor application to and use with the many types and designs oi automobile constructions.

The mounting brackets 1 are designed to be attached to the splash apron or running board hood B by means of bolts 2, or other suitable fastenings and these mounting brackets are secured to and spaced along the length of a substantially L-shaped angle bar member 3 which will lit Within the angle between the running; board A and splash hood or apron B. This angle bar member 3 will extend along only a portion of the length of the running board A and the mounting brackets 1 will be spaced along the length thereof preferably at equidistant points.

The mounting brackets 1 each have the bearing ears 1 provided at their lower e2- tremities and slightly spaced from, the lower flange of angle bar 3, and substantially L- shaped bearing meml rs the form of which is best shown in Fig. 1 1 are mounted for swinging movement in these bearing ears. The outer ends of the several bearing members 5 are formed as offset bearing; ears 6.' Bottom raclt members Y, preferably formed to be vhannelshaped in cross sec tion are pivotally connected with the bearing ears 6 with the flanges of the channel disposed downwardly, and each member 7 is cut away at one side, as at 8, to permit swinging movement in one direction only, the remaining side flange abutting at its end 9 against the offset side of the bracket ear 6 to limit swinging movement to an tended position when the bottom member 7 is brought to a posi ion substantially at right angles to angle bar 3.

Upright rack members 10, also formed to he channel-shaped incross section, are cut away on the middle web adjacent one end to provide bearing; lugs 11 and rivet pins or other suitable bearing members are employed to swingingl connect the upright rack members 10 with the out-er ends of the bottom rack members 7. The central web oi. the channel-shaped upright members 10 is of suiiicient Wit. 1h" rat the b aring lugs 11 fit on the outer sides of the bottom rack menib-er 7 and. consequently the upright mernlrers 10 can be folded down upon the bottom rack members to substantially enclose the same. Then the members 10 are brought to the upright position the web thereof lfucent the cu out lower end will en with the bot tom rack members 7 to lim; mtward swine inp: movement so that the upright members will be in substantially perpendicular tion. In the present inst .nce we have shown the use of tour mounting brackets 1 and we have found it advantageous make the angle bar 3 of a length to extend along substantially the rear two-thirds of the running board A; however, the size and length of the parts might be varied and the number and location of the mounting brackets 1 can be varied to suit the particular requirements of us lVe have found that the bottom rack members 7 are advantageously made to be of slightly less length than the maximum width of automobile step or running boards and the length of the upright members 10 will of course be governed by the length of the bottom rack members 7 so that when the members 10 are folded down their free ends will clear the bearing ears 4.

On the free ends of the several upright rack members 10 an angle bar 13 is pivotally mounted by rivets 14:, or other suitable bearing fastenings, to form a top rail. A middle rail 15 which can be of strap metal or other suitable material is pivotally mounted on each of the upright members 10 to be intermediate the running board and the top rail 13 Brace rods 16 are given swivel mountings on the two end mounting brackets 1 and at their free ends are shaped to provide hooks 17 which can be fitted over pins 18 carried by the end upright members 10 adjacent the top rail 13. These brace rods 16 can be connected after the manner shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5 and will brace and support the upright members 10 against swinging inwardly or outwardly and when the hooked ends of the brace rods are disengaged from the pins 18 these brace rods can be folded to lie closely adjacent the splash apron. B.

The upright members 1.0 at each end of the rack structure have the clamp rods 19 hingedly connected therewith at points spaced somewhat from the pivot pins 12 and the outer ends of these clamp rods 19 are externally screw-threaded. Clamp jaws 20 are titted loosely 011 the outer ends of clamp rods 19 and thumb nuts 21 are turned onto the threaded portions of the clamp rods to tighten the clamp jaws to bring); the clamping edge 22 thereof to a proper holding position against a portion of the step or running board A. As shown by the full lines in Fig. 5, the clamp rods 19 will be swung outwardly when the running board is of a width greater than the length of bottom rods 7, and where the running board is narrower than the rack structure the clamp rods will be swung inwardly and the clamp jaws will engage with the running board substantially as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 5.

The upper ends of one or more of the mounting brackets 1 can be provided with openings 23 to receive a strap 2 1, after the manner indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 5 and when the strap is drawn over and secured upon the top rail 13 or other portion of the structure, the load within the rack will be held against displacement and shifting.

When it is desired to collapse the rack brace rods 16 and clamp jaws 20 will be released, the brace rods being folded in to lie adjacent splash apron B. The front portion of the rack is then folded down after the manner shown in Figs. 6 and 7 so that the several normally upright rack members 10 encase the bottom rack members 7. The outer ends of the collapsed bars 7 and 10 are then grasped and swung forwardly to further collapse the parts as shown in Figs. 8 and 9; and, the folded structure is then swung up to lie closely adjacent the splash apron B, as shown in Fig. 10.

When in completely collapsed position the parts of our improved rack occupy a very small space immediately adjacent the splash apron where they will be out of the way of a person getting into or out of the automobile.

., To hold the completely collapsed and folded rack in the position adjacent the splash apron and to cover the same, we provide a shield 25, which can be of sheet metal or any other suitable material, and which is preferably adapted to conform to the style and appearance of the splash apron. This shield 25 has the front wall 26 thereof to suflicient length to extend beyond the forward end of angle bar 3 a distance to cover and entirely enclose and shield the forwardly folded and collapsed rack structure, and the width of this front wall is slightly less than the upright extent of mounting brackets 1, the upper edge of the s iield being curved over to provide a portion and the extreme edge being turned down to form a flange 27. In fitting the shield in the rack coveringposition the flange 27is engaged back of the upper ends of the mounting brackets 1 and the shield is swung down to be disposed substantially as shown in Figs. 3, 11 and 13 where it conforms to the general lines of the splash apron 13. Fastening screws 28 having wing heads 29 on their outer ends are given swivel mountings through the shield 25 at points spaced to correspond substantially with the spacing of any two of the mounting brackets 1, and the corresponding mounting brackets are provided with threaded openings 30 so that when the shield 25 is fitted in the rack covering position, these fastening screws 28 can be turned into the openings 30 and the shield will be readily mounted in the covering position.

hen the shield 25 is removed and the rack is extended this shield is placed on the outer side of the upright rack structure substantially as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 12, and the fastening screws 28 are turned into openings 31 on certain of the upright bars 10. l l ith the shield 25 mounted in this relation the railed upper edge and the flange 27 give a pleasing finish along the top rail of the rack structure; and, due to the fact that the shield 25 is of greater length than the rack proper, this shield will increase the length and consequently the capacity of the carrier. lVhile we have herein shown and described only certain specific embodiments of our invent-ion and have suggested only certain possible modifications, it will be appreciated that many changes and variations can be made in the form, construction, assembly, and mounting of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention.

Vie claim:

1. A luggage carrier comprising brackets mounted at the point of connection between the splash apron and running board of an automobile, a collapsible rack structure mounted on said brackets to be folded in to lie adjacent the splash apron when not in use and to be extended to rest upon and rise above the running board when in use, a shield to be interchangeably fitted to cover the rack when folded and to be fitted to extend beyond one end and increase the length of the rack when opened for use, and means carried by said shield to detachably mount the same so that it is rigidly held in each of its positions of use.

2. A luggage carrier comprising brackets mounted substantially at the points of connection between the splash apron and run ning board of an automobile, bearing members carried by said brackets to swing on horizontal pivots, bottom rack members carried by said bearingmembers and hinged thereto to swing on vertical axes, upright rack members hingedly mounted at the free ends of the bottom rack members to be folded down thereagainst in a collapsed position, and rack rails extending across and pivotally connected with the several upright rack members.

3. A luggage carrier comprising brackets mounted substantially at the points of connection between the splash apron and running board of an automobile, bearing members carried by said brackets to swing on horizontal pivots, bottom rack members carried by said bearing members and hinged thereto to swing on vertical axes, upright rack members hingedly mounted at the free ends of the bottom rack members to be folded down thereagainst in a collapsed position, rack rails extending across and pivotally connected with the several upright rack members, brace rods foldably connected with certain of said brackets to be extended and have their free ends connected with certain of the upright frame members to hold the same in upright position, and clamp means carried by certain of said upright rack members to engage with the running board to hold the extended rack structure rigidly mounted thereon.

In testimony whereof we hereto afiix our signatures.

LEO EDELMANN. HAROLD EDEN. 

